Article of footwear

ABSTRACT

An article of footwear has a shoe body, including a shoe upper and a bendable sole which together define a first cavity, and the sole includes a second cavity. A pump is positioned inside the second cavity and it is operated by a device inside the sole. This device contains at least one portion movable within the second cavity against the pump in response to bending or unbending of the sole.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a 35 U.S.C. §§371 national phase conversionof PCT/US2007/008651, filed Apr. 6, 2007, which claims priority of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/791,955, filed Apr. 14, 2006, and U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/842,509, filed Sep. 6, 2006, thedisclosure of which has been incorporated herein by reference. The PCTInternational Application was published in the English language.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is concerned with an article of footwear, and inparticular an article of footwear in which the climate therein can bemore effectively controlled. The present invention is also concernedwith components which may be used for constructing such a footweararticle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During the course of a day, a foot, trapped within the confines of aconventional article of footwear, has a tendency to become hot andsweaty. This can cause a number of issues including poor foot odour andfungal infections such as athlete's foot. In these situations, anarticle of footwear that is better ventilated can cool and help toremove moisture, thus improving the unhealthy conditions within thefootwear.

The prior art contains a number of examples of ventilated footwear; boththose that employ a selectively permeable membrane and those that areprovided with a pump. In both cases, the conventional designs have theirdrawbacks.

Footwear with selectively permeable membranes are limited in theireffectiveness because the same qualities that make the membraneimpervious to water also limit the amount of air that can pass throughthem. These designs usually include a membrane that is mounted above aperforated outsole and are susceptible to blockage as mud and dirt buildup on the bottom surface of the sole.

Conventional pump-ventilated footwear is characterized by a pump mountedin a cavity within the sole and comprising a resilient chamber incommunication with inlet and outlet check valves. In particular, theinlet valve controls the supply of air from outside the footwear whilethe outlet valve controls flow into one or more ventilation passages fordistributing the air through the footwear. Due to the wearer's weight,during walking the sole of the footwear tends to be downwardly pressedand this pressure acts to compress the chamber in the sole, forcing airthrough the outlet valve into the shoe cavity. When the footwear israised from the ground, the chamber is restored by the inherentresilience of the pump such that is will return to its defaultundeformed state, drawing in another charge of air.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,660,698 describes a prior art shoe where the pumpchamber is formed as a resilient bellows or bladder received in a recessin a conventional relatively rigid heel, adjacent a flexible inner sole.U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,441 provides another example of prior art but wherethe pump chamber is formed as a cavity directly in a resilient sole.

In conventional pump-ventilated footwear, such as the aforementionedexamples, the wearer's weight is supported by an air chamber in thesole; and the amount of ventilation is largely dependent on the amountof deformation of the sole during walking. For increased ventilation,the air chamber must be made larger or be made to deflect more, and thusthe vertical movement of the foot within the shoe body sole must beincreased or the lateral (horizontal) size of the pump increased, orboth. All of these factors disadvantageously decrease the stability ofthe shoe, particularly in the lateral direction. To avoid this lack ofstability with this type of footwear article, the amount of deflectionand the size of the chamber, and consequently the displacement of thepump, are often relatively small in designs that are commerciallyavailable. FIGS. 1 a and 1 b illustrate the operation of a pumpmechanism in such a conventional footwear article in that a pump memberof the pump mechanism operates in response to the deformation of theshoe sole. Accordingly, it has been difficult to design inexpensive andreliable footwear of this type that provides good and practicalventilation for wearers with satisfactory stability.

Another drawback associated with conventional pump-ventilated footweararticles is that they typically provide ventilation only when thewearer's body weight is forced against the heel; and not during anyother part of the walking motion.

A further disadvantage of conventional ventilated footwear is that theymay not be suitable for wearing in cold climates. This is becauseexternal cold air would be undesirably drawn to the shoe cavity by thepump or through the selectively permeable membrane.

The present invention seeks to address the aforementioned problems inventilated footwear. Furthermore, the invention seeks to take advantageof the air circulation in the footwear by introducing improvements whichinclude means to circulate warm air, a deodorant, antiperspirant and/orfragrance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is providedwith an article of footwear comprising a shoe body including a shoeupper and a bendable sole which together define a first cavity, whereinthe sole is provided with a second cavity therein for housing at leastone pump operable by means actuable thereon located inside the sole,wherein the actuation means contains at least one portion movable withinthe second cavity against said pump in response to bending or unbendingof the sole.

Preferably, the sole may include a front portion, a mid portion and arear portion, and may be bendable at or near said mid portion inresponse to or during walking motion, and wherein the actuation meansmay generally be of an elongate profile, and may include a front segmentgenerally residing in the front portion, a rear segment generallyresiding in the rear portion and a pivotal region connecting the frontsegment and the rear segment, wherein the pivotal region may be arrangedat or near the bendable mid-portion.

Suitably, the pump may reside between an insole and an outsole at ornear the rear portion. Alternatively, the pump may reside between aninsole and an outsole at or near the front portion. Further, the pumpmay include a front region and a rear region, and wherein the frontregion may be substantially thinner than the rear region. The pump mayalso be provided with air passageways and valves in communication withthe first cavity and/or the surroundings of the footwear article.Specifically, the pump may be enclosed in a generally airtight chamberarranged in the sole and wherein the chamber may be provided with airpassageways and control valves in communication with the first cavityand/or the surroundings of the footwear article.

Advantageously, the pump may be engaged with the actuation means at oneend thereof. There may be provided with two said pumps, one of which islocated above the one end of the actuation means and the other pump islocated below the one end of the actuation means.

Preferably, the pivotal region may include a spring, a springboard or arigid board.

Suitably, the footwear article may comprise a control valve connected toa passageway of the pump for controlling the ratio of the amount of airreceivable from the first cavity and the amount of air receivable fromthe surroundings of the footwear article.

Advantageously, the footwear article may comprise a chamber foraccommodating a temperature-regulating or substance dispensing member,wherein the chamber is connected to the first and/or second cavity. Thefootwear article may comprise a temperature-regulating or substancedispensing member.

Preferably, the sole may include an insole and an outsole togetherdefining the second cavity therebetween and having a front portion and arear portion, with the pump residing in the rear portion, and whereinthe sole is made of relatively rigid material whereby in use therelative distance between the insole and the outsole at the rear portionremains essentially constant during movement of air into and/or out ofthe cavity.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is providedan article of footwear comprising a shoe body including a shoe upper anda sole which together define a first cavity and means for pumping airinto and/or out of the first cavity, wherein a second cavity is definedin the sole and the second cavity is provided with a chamber dividedinto at least two generally airtight cells by a barrier, and each of thecells is provided with intake and outtake valves and in fluidcommunicable relationship with the first cavity and/or the surroundingsof the footwear article, and wherein the barrier is movable towards oraway from a wall within said chamber whereby on movement of said barrierat least one of the cells expands while at least the other cellcollapses, simultaneously drawing in air to the expanding cell from thefirst cavity and/or from the surroundings of the footwear article andpumping air from the collapsing cell to the first cavity and/or thesurroundings of the footwear article.

Preferably, the barrier may be in the form of a piston slidable withinthe chamber, causing the simultaneously expansion of one of the cellsand the collapsing of the other of the cells. Alternatively, the barriermay be in the form of a bladder contained in the chamber, and whereinthe two cells define one cavity in the chamber but external to thebladder, and another cavity internal to the bladder, respectively.

Suitably, the footwear article may comprise two or at least two of saidbladders.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is providedan article of footwear comprising a shoe body including a shoe upper anda sole, wherein the shoe upper and the sole together define a firstcavity, with said sole provided with a second cavity for housing pumpfor pumping air into and/or out of the first cavity in response torelative downward displacement of the sole, and wherein the footweararticle further comprises means for amplifying action of relativedownward displacement of the sole and acting on the pump, with theaction amplification means provided with a pivotal or buckling regionwhereby in use a relatively small downward displacement action of thesole is translated into a comparatively larger displacement action onsaid pump.

Preferably, the sole may be provided with a relatively high heel, andwherein the pumping means may reside in the heel.

Suitably, the amplification means may have a generally elongate profileand may be generally vertically disposed on a side in the heel, andwherein in use on the relative downward displacement of the sole theaction amplification means or the pivotable region bends towards andacts on the pump. In particular, the footwear article may comprise twosaid amplification means generally vertically disposed on opposite sidesin the heel.

Advantageously, the sole may be provided with a front portion and a rearportion and the pumping means may reside at or near the front portion.

Preferably, the amplification means may comprise a torsion spring havinga helical coil portion at the buckling portion

Suitably, the pump may be provided with inlet and outlet valves incommunication with the first cavity and/or the surroundings of thefootwear article.

Advantageously, the amplification means may have an elongate profile andmay be generally horizontally disposed across a length of the footweararticle.

Preferably, the footwear article may comprise a control valve connectedto an intake of the pump for controlling the ratio of the amount of airreceivable from the surroundings of the footwear article and the amountof air receivable from the first cavity of the footwear article.

Suitably, the footwear article may comprise a chamber for accommodatinga temperature-regulating or substance dispensing member, wherein thechamber may be connected to the first and/or second cavity. Inparticular, the footwear article may comprise a temperature-regulatingor substance dispensing member.

Although three aspects of the present invention have been summarizedabove, the present invention can also be classified based on theircharacteristics, to be explained as follows.

The first characteristic “Leveraged displacement of a pump” is designedto address the stability problems found in pump-ventilated footwear inthe prior art. This characteristic of the invention introduces theconcept of amplifying a tiny displacement of the sole into a much moresignificant displacement of a pump through the use of leverage. Thuseven in pump ventilated footwear actuated by weight, it can be envisagedthat a small deformation of the support surface can be amplified into alarge displacement of a pump thereby reducing the stability issues to apoint where they are no longer a problem.

The second characteristic “Pump actuated on bending force” is differentfrom the prior art in that the prior art covers pump-ventilated footwearactuated by the weight of a wearer against a support surface thatdeforms. All soles deform to some extent during walking, but the solesof conventional pump-ventilated footwear deform to a far greater extentthan regular footwear as this deformation is relied on to actuate thepump.

Thus the motivation for this characteristic of the invention is tointroduce features that do not require the sole to deform any more thantypical footwear thus preserving the stability of the footwear.

The third characteristic “Dual-action pump” refers to a pump design thataims to maximize the efficiency of pumps of a given size. In a fixedspace, there can be envisaged multiple airtight cells, each fitted withintake and outtake check valves. These airtight cells function incomplementary phases such that when a first cell, or group of cells, aredepressed a second cell, or group of cells, are expanded. Thus because afirst cell and a second cell are never fully expanded at the same time,they can occupy the same fixed space without interfering with thefunction of the other. There are certain space limitations, in footwear,if the general appearance of the footwear is to be preserved, so themotivation for this characteristic of the invention is to increase theamount of airflow that can be provided by a pump mechanism of a givensize.

Implementation of the above mentioned characteristics are described inthe following:

Weight Actuated Mechanisms

According to this classification of embodiments, there is provided anarticle of footwear comprising a shoe body including a shoe upper and asole, wherein the shoe upper and the sole together define a firstcavity, wherein the sole is provided with a second cavity for housingmeans for pumping air into and/or out of the first cavity in response tochange of pressure on the sole, and wherein the pumping means includesat least one pump member and one pivoting member having a buckling orpivotal region and is buckling or pivotal on an increased pressure onthe sole whereby the pump is acted on to pump air into and/or out of thefirst cavity.

From an alternate perspective, this aspect of the invention can bedescribed as follows: there is provided a ventilated footwear article,comprising a sole defining a reference portion and a moving portion, inwhich walking causes oscillating movement of the moving portion relativeto the reference portion, a displacement-amplifying mechanism within thesole for amplifying an input displacement to produce an outputdisplacement, the input displacement being provided by the relativemovement between the moving portion and the reference portion, a pumpactuated by the output displacement to supply an airflow for ventilatingthe footwear.

The sole between the reference portion and moving portion may beresilient or an air gap and the relative oscillating movement may be theresult of compression of the sole between the wearer's foot and asupport surface and expansion of the sole when the foot is raised fromthe support surface. The sole may be integrally formed or formed fromone or more parts to provide the resiliency.

According to a first embodiment of the invention the relativeoscillating movement may be the result of compression of the solebetween a foot of the wearer and a support surface and expansion of thesole when the foot is raised away from the support surface and thedisplacement-amplifying mechanism may include a spring member havingopposing ends joined by a buckling portion offset from a line joiningthe ends and presented toward the pump, the ends of the spring memberbeing mounted between the reference portion and the moving portion suchthat the ends are substantially free to rotate, whereby movement of themoving portion with respect to the reference portion produces amplifieddisplacement of the spring member at the buckling portion for actuatingthe pump. Preferably the spring member has a shallow V-shape biasedtowards straightening, the base of the V-shape constituting the bucklingportion.

The pump preferably may comprise a bellows or bladder received in a pumpcavity in the sole. The bellows preferably may have a generally oblateshape. Optionally the walls may be pleated. Preferably a pair of springmembers may be mounted on either side of the bellows, each with itsrespective buckling portion presented towards opposing sides of thebellows such that the bellows is compressed therebetween. The springmember may comprise a torsion spring having a helical coil portion atthe buckling portion. Alternatively, the spring member may comprise aspringboard or another mechanism with a bias for straightening. Thisexample encompasses designs where the spring members provide ahorizontal compression of a bladder as well as an angular compression ofa bladder as may be the case in a ladies high heel shoe or boot.

A second embodiment is similar to the first but utilizes a lever as thedisplacement-amplifying member in place of a spring or spring member. Ina second embodiment—and second example of a leveraged, weight actuatedmechanism—the displacement-amplifying mechanism may include one or morevertically arranged levers fixed to the reference portion, the leverhaving a first part for engaging the actuating face and a second partfor engaging the bellows, whereby movement of the moving portion withrespect to the reference portion presses the actuating face to engagethe first part and pivot the lever, producing amplified displacement ofthe second part for actuating the pump.

In a third embodiment—and third example of a leveraged, weight actuatedmechanism—there is a lever arranged along the length of an article offootwear; instead of the vertical arrangement as in the secondembodiment. A tiny movement of the lever close to the fulcrum isamplified to produce a larger angular displacement at an end of thelever in order to cause amplified displacement of a pump.

The three embodiments may optionally include a temperature-regulating orsubstance dispensing mechanism, wherein the chamber may be influid-communicable relationship with the first and/or second cavity.

Weight Actuated Mechanism with Dual-Action Pump

In the first three embodiments, the pump member may be enclosed in achamber arranged in the sole. The chamber may serve a number offunctions, one of which is to protect the relatively fragile pump membertherein; a second which would provide support for the foot. Further, thechamber may be fitted with intake and outtake channels and check valves;and be made otherwise airtight except through these channels. With thisarrangement a “dual-action pump” is created, as air is forced out of thepump member when the pump is depressed simultaneously drawing air intothe chamber; and forces out air from the chamber when the pump returnsto its non-depressed state.

Bending Actuated Mechanisms

In the fourth and preferred embodiment of the invention, there isprovided an article of footwear comprising a shoe body including a shoeupper and a bendable sole which together define a first cavity, whereinsaid sole is provided with a second cavity for housing means for pumpingair into and/or out of the first cavity in response to bending orstraightening of the sole. This is advantageous because thisconstruction avoids the reliance on the deformation of a rear end of thesole in response to the change of pressure during walking inconventional pump-ventilated footwear.

Preferably, the sole may include a front portion, a mid portion and arear portion, and may be bendable at or near the mid portion in responseto or during walking. During walking, due to the anatomy of a human footthe mid-portion of the footwear article is typically being bended andthe provision of a bendable portion allows the footwear to bend moreeasily and consistently at a similar region. It is to be understooddifferent persons with a similar size of feet wearing the same footweararticle, according to this aspect of the present invention, would bendthe shoe sole in a similar extent.

During bending or straightening of the sole, the angle between the rearportion of the footwear article and the front portion changes.

Suitably, the pumping means may include at least one pump member andmeans actuable on the pump member for pumping air into and/or out of thefirst cavity. The pumping of air into and/or out of the first cavityallows ventilation of the first cavity.

Advantageously, the pump member may reside between an insole and anoutsole at the rear portion although it could also be located in thefront portion. The rear of the sole is a region typically taking up arelatively large space. This space may be taken advantage of inproviding room for the pump member.

If the pump member is located at the rear, the actuating means ispreferably fixed in the front part but relatively free to move in theback part. If the pump member is located in the fore part, the actuatingmeans is fixed in the back part but relatively free to move in the frontpart.

Preferably, the pump member may include a front region and a rearregion, and wherein the front region may be substantially thinner thanthe rear region. This configuration is advantageous for maximizing theuse of space within the sole because the angular displacement caused bybending is greater at the rear region than at the front region; which iscloser to the bendable mid-portion of the footwear article.

Suitably, the pump member may be enclosed in a chamber arranged in thesole. The chamber may serve a number of functions, one of which is toprotect the relatively fragile pump member therein; a second which wouldprovide support for the foot. Further, the chamber may be fitted withintake and outtake channels and check valves; and be made otherwiseairtight except through these channels. With this arrangement a “dualaction” pump is created, as air is forced out of the pump member whenthe pump is depressed simultaneously drawing air into the chamber; andforces out air from the chamber when the pump returns to itsnon-depressed state.

An alternative “dual action” pump could be created with two pump membersplaced on top of one another, in the second cavity, and divided in themiddle by an actuating member such as a springboard. The top and bottomof the cavity would be formed of relatively rigid walls. For an articleof footwear in its default and straightened form, the position of theactuating member would ensure that the top of the two pumps is depressedagainst the ceiling of the cavity. Upon bending of the footwear, theactuating member depresses the lower pump and the upper pump starts toexpand. When the footwear straightens, the upper pump is depressed andthe lower pump expands.

Preferably, the actuating means may be of an elongate profile, and mayinclude a front segment generally residing in the front portion, a rearsegment generally residing in the rear portion and a pivotal regionconnecting the front segment and the rear segment, wherein the pivotalregion may be arranged at or near the bendable mid portion. Inparticular the pivotal region may comprise a spring or springboard. Arelatively rigid board may also be used but the use of this may not beideal as it will restrict the amount of bending.

Suitably, the actuable means may be adapted to assume a firstconfiguration in which the actuable means is straightened or generallystraight, and/or not acting on a pump member under its rear segment.

When the article of footwear first bends during walking motion theactuating means is able to stay straight but shifts positions in thesecond chamber depressing the pump member located under its rear segmentthus assuming a second configuration. When the angular rotation of therear segment of the sole relative to the front segment becomes so greatthat the pump is fully depressed, bending the shoe further would causethe actuating means to bend as well so as to not restrict the walkingcharacteristics of the wearer thus creating a third configuration.

Suitably, the footwear article may further comprise a tube or passagewayfor connecting the first cavity and the second cavity and a tube orpassageway for connecting the second cavity to the external environment.In particular, there may be provided with a one-way valve adapted tocontrol the direction of movement of air between the first cavity andthe second cavity in the tube and another one-way valve in thepassageway to control the movement of air between the second cavity andthe external environment.

As an additional feature, the embodiment might also include atemperature-regulating or substance dispensing mechanism, wherein thechamber may be in fluid-communicable relationship with the first and/orsecond cavity.

In a fifth embodiment—and second incorporating a bending actuatingpumping mechanism—there is a pump member enclosed in a chamber beneaththe bendable mid portion of an article of footwear. Bending of the shoecauses “finger-like” members to pivot and engage the pump member, thedetails of which will be explained in more detail herein.

Bending Actuated Mechanisms with Dual-Action Pump

In embodiments 4 and 5, the pump member may be enclosed in a chamberarranged in the sole. The chamber may serve a number of functions, oneof which is to protect the relatively fragile pump member therein; asecond which would provide support for the foot. Further, the chambermay be fitted with intake and outtake channels and check valves; and bemade otherwise airtight except through these channels. With thisarrangement a “dual action” pump is created, as air is forced out of thepump member when the pump is depressed simultaneously drawing air intothe chamber; and forces out air from the chamber when the pump returnsto its non-depressed state.

An alternative “dual action” pump could be created with two pump membersplaced on top of one another, in the second cavity, and divided in themiddle by an actuating member such as a springboard. The top and bottomof the cavity would be formed of relatively rigid walls. For an articleof footwear in its default and straightened form, the position of theactuating member would ensure that the top of the two pumps is depressedagainst the ceiling of the cavity. Upon bending of the footwear, theactuating member depresses the lower pump and the upper pump starts toexpand. When the footwear straightens, the upper pump is depressed andthe lower pump expands.

Additional Features

In addition to the defining characteristics of the invention, thereremain a number of supplementary features that allow the invention tofunction more effectively and/or comfortably than the prior art.

In one aspect of the invention there is pump-ventilated footwearcomprising a pump for pumping air to an outlet for ventilation of thefootwear and a recirculation valve connected to an intake of the pumpfor controlling the ratio of air to be received from an internal inletwithin the footwear, and the ratio of air to be received from anexternal inlet outside the footwear.

Preferably the recirculation valve is a modulating type including ahousing having an aperture with a first inlet port opposite a secondinlet port and an outlet port, a valve member sealingly received forlinear sliding movement in the aperture, the valve member having aninternal passage for connecting either or both the first and secondinlet ports to the outlet port.

Additionally there are a number of different designs for various othercomponents such as a springboard and a pump.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of footwear articles and their components according to thepresent invention will now be described, by way of examples of, and withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b show cross section views of two shoe soles in which isshown a prior art pump-ventilated sole;

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show cross section views of two shoe soles using anamplified displacement mechanism as in the current invention;

FIG. 3 shows an example of a lever system, a concept which is used inthe current invention;

FIG. 4 shows an alternative example of a lever system and actuable meanssuitable for use in an embodiment of the current invention;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show two alternative amplifying and actuable meanssuitable for use an embodiment of the current invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates the bending action of a footwear article duringwalking motion;

FIGS. 8 a, 8 b, 8 c, and 8 d illustrate a cross sectional view of a soleunder the current invention that is actuated by bending;

FIGS. 9 a, 9 b, 10 a, 10 b, 11 a, 11 b, and 11 c illustrate crosssectional views of 3 different examples of a “dual-action pump”

FIG. 12 a is a schematic longitudinal section of a footwear articleaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 b is a schematic section along line A-A′ of FIG. 12 a;

FIGS. 13 a, 13 b, 13 c, 13 d are schematic sections along line B-B′ ofFIG. 12 a showing expanded and contracted configurations of a pumpmember, respectively;

FIGS. 14 a and 14 b are schematic sections generally corresponding tothose of FIGS. 13 a and 13 b but for use in a high-heeled footweararticle;

FIGS. 15 a, 15 b, 15 c and 15 d are schematic sections similar to 13 a,13 b, 13 c, 13 d in principle although the detailed operations thereofare different;

FIGS. 16 a and 16 b show schematic longitudinal sections of a footweararticle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 17 a, 17 b, 17 c, 17 d and 17 e illustrate examples of levermechanisms suitable for use in 16 a and 16 b;

FIG. 18 show schematic longitudinal sections of a footwear article thatgenerally corresponds to FIG. 16 a but where the location of themechanism is changed;

FIG. 19 a is a schematic longitudinal section of a footwear article in afirst configuration according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 19 b is a schematic longitudinal section of the footwear article ofFIG. 19 a when the footwear article is in a partially bendedconfiguration;

FIG. 19 c is a schematic longitudinal section of the footwear article ofFIG. 19 a when the footwear article is in a substantially rotated orbended configuration;

FIG. 20 shows an actuation mechanism suitable for use in FIG. 19 a;

FIG. 21 shows a schematic view of a footwear sole that is suitable foruse in FIG. 19 a;

FIG. 22 shows a schematic longitudinal section of a footwear articlegenerally corresponding to FIG. 19 a but where the locations of themechanisms are changed;

FIG. 23 a is a schematic longitudinal section of a footwear article in afirst configuration according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 23 b is a schematic longitudinal section of the footwear article ofFIG. 23 a when the footwear article is bended;

FIG. 24 shows a displacement mechanism used in FIG. 23 a;

FIGS. 25 a and 25 b illustrates the general deformation of a chamber andbladder under the mid-portion of a footwear article similar to that inFIG. 23 a;

FIGS. 26 and 27 show displacement mechanisms suitable for use in FIG. 23a;

FIGS. 28 a, 28 b and 28 c illustrate a schematic view of recirculationcontrol valve;

FIGS. 29 a and 29 b illustrate a pump member suitable for use in certainembodiments of the current invention;

FIGS. 30 a and 30 b illustrate an alternative design for a pump membersuitable for use in certain embodiments of the current invention;

FIG. 31 a and FIG. 31 b depict a springboard suitable for use as anactuating member in FIG. 19 a;

FIG. 32 a and FIG. 32 b depict an alternative springboard suitable foruse as an actuating member in FIG. 19 a; and

FIG. 33 depicts a footwear article with a chamber for accommodating atemperature-regulating or substance dispensing member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Characteristic #1: Amplified Displacement of Pump

In this characteristic we aim to show how a large volume of air flow canbe achieved while preserving the walking stability and comfort ofconventional footwear.

In conventional pump-ventilated footwear articles, the operation ofventilation and in particular the squeezing of the pump member isdependent to a large extent on the deformation of the shoe sole by thefoot. A large pump and therefore extensive motion of compression wouldadversely affect the stability of the footwear. FIGS. 1 a and 1 billustrate such a prior art pump-ventilated footwear sole in itsexpanded configuration and the same shoe sole in its compressedconfiguration, respectively. In the diagram it shows how the relativedistance between the insole and outsole is significantly reduced duringcompression of the pump member (i.e., x=y+Δ₁) where Δ₁ is fairly large.

Alternatively FIGS. 2 a and 2 b depict a pumping mechanism in which therelative distance between an insole and outsole remain essentiallyconstant or at least largely so a=b+Δ₂) where Δ₂ is fairly small andΔ₂<<Δ₁ for the same amount of pumping. It can be envisaged that becausethe shoe sole avoids significant deformation, the stability of thefootwear is preserved.

The concept of amplified displacement of a pump relies on a mechanismfor translating a small movement, which when applied to an amplificationmechanism, is translated into a large movement to more fully actuate orcompress a pump. In this manner it is believed that the problem ofstability is avoided because the size of deformation of the sole is toosmall to pose a problem.

FIG. 3 illustrates a leveraged system 300 consisting of a lever 301 anda fulcrum 302. In the configuration, the lever 301 is divided into twolengths L_(I) and L_(O) divided by a pivoting point 303 at the fulcrum302. According to the principle of leverage, the ratio between an outputdisplacement D_(O) and an output displacement D_(I) is equal to theratio between the two corresponding length L_(O) and L_(I) as shown inthe equation

$\frac{D_{O}}{D_{I}} = \frac{L_{O}}{L_{I}}$which equals the amplification.

For example if L_(O)=5 L_(I) then the amplification is five fold in thedisplacement, or D_(O)=5 D_(I).

The concept of an amplified displacement using the principle of leverageis further illustrated in FIG. 4 in which the example shows how a smallinput displacement is amplified to a larger output displacement with thehelp of a biased fulcrum location.

Another type of amplification mechanism is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6in which the example shows how a small vertical displacement (Δy) of aspring member causes it to buckle and create a larger horizontaldisplacement (Δx). If placed next to a pump member, this horizontaldisplacement could be used to actuate it.

FIG. 5 illustrates two configurations of a spring member 500. In theconfiguration on the right when it is not subject to compression, thespring member 500 is in its default configuration and is generallystraight. In the configuration of the left, when it is subject tocompression the spring member 500 pivots at a coil portion 501 in thecentral region thereof, causing it to buckle. FIG. 6 illustrates twosimilar configurations of an alternative spring member 600. This springmember 600 is however different in that there is no distinct coilportion similar to the coil portion. Yet, the spring member 600 cangenerally still pivot and buckle at its central region.

Characteristic #2: Pump Actuated on Bending Force

FIG. 7 illustrates the bending of a shoe body during walking motion. Intypical walking motion, when a wearer's foot strikes the ground, thewearer's body weight is typically forced against the heel as thewearer's foot decelerates. The lower leg then rotates over the shoerelative to the ground, and the forefoot strikes the ground. At thispoint, the shoe bends as the heel is lifted from the ground (where it isstraightened) in preparation for the next step. In FIG. 7, during thebending and straightening action the angle θ changes between the frontpart and back part of the sole. A pump or plurality of such can beactuated by the action driving the change in angle θ. For the purposesof this specification, any change in the angle θ, between differentparts of the sole, is considered to be bending.

In pump ventilated footwear actuated by bending, there is an actuatingmember fixed on one end but free to move in a cavity located on itsother end. A change in the angle θ, caused by the bending, brings a pumpmember located in the cavity into a state of engagement with theactuating member so that it is depressed. That is to say, during bendingof an article of footwear the free end of the actuating member changespositions in the cavity and thereby actuates a pump member located atits free end.

FIGS. 8 a, 8 b, 8 c, and 8 d illustrate the concept of a spring member800 that is fixed in position on the left side but free to move in acavity 801 on the other end. As the angle θ increases, caused by theraising of 803, a pump member 802 is compressed further and further bythe spring member 800 until a point where the pump member 802 is fullydepressed and the pump member 802 strikes the bottom of the cavity 801and starts to bend as well. The motion of 803 in the figure is made toresemble the motion of the heel of an article of footwear duringbending.

Characteristic #3: Dual-Action Pump

As previously mentioned, a “Dual-action” pump refers to a pump designthat aims to maximize the efficiency of pumps of a given size. In afixed space, there can be envisaged multiple airtight cells, each havingpassageways and valves in communication with the first cavity and theexterior of the footwear.

These airtight cells function in complementary states such that when afirst part of cell or cells are depressed a second part of cell orcells, are expanded. FIG. 9 a and FIG. 9 b illustrate an example of adual-action pump in which a bladder 902 resides in an airtight chamber901. In this example, the bladder serves as a first part while theairtight chamber serves as a second part.

For the purposes of this specification, a cell can be considered to bean airtight enclosure having passageways and valves in communicationwith the first cavity and the exterior of the footwear. Therefore beingcells, both the chamber and the bladder are fitted with check valvescontrolling the flow of air into and out of them. When the bladder orfirst part is depressed (i.e., pumping air out), it shrinks in size andair is sucked into the chamber or second part to fill the void left byit. As pressure is removed from the bladder or first part, theresilience of it causes it to expand against the walls of the chamber orsecond part pushing air out of the chamber. Thus air can be pumped intothe footwear both when the first part is depressed and when the firstpart expands.

In a similar example FIGS. 10 a and 10 b depict a pumping mechanismwhere two pumps (1002 a, 1002 b) are confined in a relatively tightspace and separated by an actuating member 1000. The two pumps representdifferent cells. Due to the tight confines and the resilience of theactuating member 1000, one pump member remains largely compressed and asecond largely expanded in its default configuration. In the top figure,FIG. 10 a, the top pump 1002 b is depressed while the lower pump 1002 ais expanded. When the actuating member 1000 presses down on the lowerpump 1002 a, the top pump 1002 b starts to expand. Each of the two pumpmembers (1002 a, 1002 b) represents a different part.

It should be noted that there can be multiple cells in a part but theremust be at least one cell in each of the two parts. Each part expandsand contracts in unison.

In another example, FIG. 11 a, 11 b and 11 c depict a pumping mechanismthat resembles a piston. The pump mechanism comprises a movable barrier1102 within the pump member and dividing the cavity 1100 a, 1100 b intotwo airtight cells which also represent a first and a second partrespectively. FIG. 11 a shows the cavity 1100 with the lower cell 1100 bfully expanded due to the position of the movable barrier 1102 at thetop of the cavity 1100. FIG. 11 b shows the cavity 1100 with the movablebarrier 1102 positioned partway within the cavity 1100. It is to beunderstood that when the pump mechanism goes through the transition froma first configuration (FIG. 11 a) to a second configuration (FIG. 11 b),air in the lower cell 1100 b of the cavity is compressed causing it tobe pumped out of the lower cell 1100 b of the cavity and into or out ofthe article of footwear depending on the direction of the valves.Simultaneously to the pumping of air out of the lower cell 1100 b of thecavity, air flows into the upper cell 1100 a of the cavity. If theposition of the barrier 1102 were to move further down (FIG. 11 c) itwould continue to pump air out of the lower cell (1100 b) and the uppercell (1100 a) would continue to fill with air. If the barrier 1102 wereto shift up, the reverse would happen with air being pumped out of theupper cell (1100 a) and air sucked into the lower cell (1100 b) of thecavity.

Embodiment 1

FIGS. 12 a and 12 b illustrate a first embodiment of a footwear article1200 in which a ventilated system is provided. The footwear article 1200has a shoe upper 1202 and a sole 1204 which together define a firstcavity 1206 for accommodating the foot of a wearer. The sole 1204comprises an insole 1208, a mid sole 1210 and an outsole 1220, and apump mechanism resides in the midsole 1210. Alternatively the mid sole1210 can be formed as part of the outsole 1220.

The pump mechanism includes a pump member 1222 and is provided at themid sole 1210 between the insole 1208 and the outsole 1220. Inparticular, the sole 1204 has a front portion 1224 and a rear portion1226. In this embodiment, the midsole 1210 is provided with a secondcavity 1228 in the form of an air-tight chamber housing the pump member1222 at the rear portion 1226. The pump member 1222 includes inlet checkvalve 1232 and outlet check valve 1236 while the air-tight chamber 1228includes inlet check valve 1230 and outlet check valve 1234. The inletcheck valves 1230, 1232 are mounted in an inlet passage 1238 terminatingin an opening 1240 external to the sole 1204. Outlet passages 1242, 1244extend longitudinally from the outlet check valves 1234, 1236 andterminate in outlet opening 1246 in the front portion 1224 of the sole1204, for ventilating the shoe cavity 1206.

FIGS. 13 a, 13 b, 13 c and 13 d depict the pump mechanism inEmbodiment 1. FIGS. 13 a and 13 b represent an expanded and compressedversion, respectively, of a pump actuated by a torsion spring with ahelical coil. FIGS. 13 c and 13 d represent an expanded and compressedversion, respectively, of a pump actuated by a resilient springboard.FIGS. 13 a, 13 b, 13 c and 13 d illustrate a pump cavity 1350 in a heel1252 of the footwear article 1200 bounded by an upper movable portion1354, a lower reference portion 1356 and opposite sidewalls 1358, 1360.The pump cavity 1350 is expanded and contracted vertically as show inFIGS. 13 a, 13 b, 13 c and 13 d, the resilience of the heel 1252 beingschematically represented by the spring 1362, biasing the pump cavity1350 to its expanded position. It is understood that this resilience canbe achieved in a number of ways, for instance by the appropriateselection of material (.e.g., spring, elastomer) for an integrallyformed heel 1252 or by joining resilient and relatively rigid parts. Therelative movement 1363 between the moving portion 1354 and the referenceportion 1356, models compression of the heel 1252 and correspondingcompression of the pump cavity 1350 upon heel strike. It is to beunderstood that the terms “reference portion” and “moving portion” areused only to differentiate two portions between which there is relativemovement and are not restricted to particular portions or specificrelative movements based upon the context of the described embodiment.

The pump cavity 1350 is provided with a pump member 1364 and actuallyoperates with a displacement-amplifying mechanism including a pair ofdisplacement amplifying spring members 1366, 1368 elongated to extendgenerally uprightly adjacent the side walls 1358, 1360 as show in FIG.13 a. Each spring member 1366, 1368 is a torsion spring having a shallowV-shape biased towards straightening or a springboard. At the base ofthe V-shape a helical coil portion 1370 constitutes a buckling portionwhich engages a side of the pump member 1364. The spring members 1366,1368 are pivotal or bendable at the pivotal helical coil portion 1370.Lower ends of each spring member 1366, 1368 are mounted to the referenceportion 1356, and upper ends to the moving portion 1354 such that theyare offset from a line joining the ends of the fixed and free ends,1372, 1374 and are free to rotate. Like buckling columns loaded incompression, the relative vertical movement 1363 between the ends ofspring members 1366, 1368 is amplified as they are deflected from ashallow V-shape to a deeper V-shape, each producing an amplified outputdisplacement 1376. FIGS. 13 c and 13 d depict the same mechanism with aspring member that consists of a springboard rather than a torsionspring 1366, 1368.

It can thus be envisaged that with the heel 1252 of the sole 1204 beingresilient, during walking, specifically upon heel strike, the heel 1252is compressed between the wearer's foot which abuts an inner surface1278 and a support surface abutting an outer surface 1280. The heel 1252expands again when the foot is raised. The oscillating expansion andcontraction produced in this way is used to actuate the pump member 1364drawing in fresh air and forcing it through the shoe for ventilation, inparticular the pump member 1364 is actuated on action of the pivoting orbending of the spring members 1366, 1368. The presence of the abovementioned displacement-amplifying mechanism is advantageous because theextent of performance of the pump member 1364 depends to a large extenton a relatively small compression of the shoe sole 1204. During normalwalking motion this small compression of the shoe sole 1204, means thatthe addition of a pump-ventilated mechanism will not affect the wearer'scomfort or ankle support.

In the present embodiment, the pump cavity 1350 is an air tight chambersurrounding the pump member and is fitted with intake and outtake checkvalves and pipes so as to serve as a second chamber in a “dual-action”pump; the details of which were described before. Thus when the pumpmember 1364 is depressed, the chamber 1350 fills with air and when thepump member 1364 expands, air is pumped out of the chamber 1350.

Optionally, this design may also incorporate a temperature-regulating orsubstance dispensing chamber and member for circulating warm or perhapsa scented air through the first cavity 1206.

The advantages of this embodiment are particularly prominent whenapplied to high-heeled footwears. Most high-heeled footwears (typicallyreferred to footwears having a heel of at least 1.5 inches) arenotoriously known to be uncomfortable for a number of reasons. Providingventilation to high-heeled footwears has also been known to be difficultbecause they are typically smaller and with minimal space foraccommodating a ventilation device. FIGS. 14 a and 14 b illustrate howthe first embodiment can be extended to encompass a high-heeled footwear1400 (only cross-section of footwear around the heel is shown). Fromthese figures, it is shown that there is a mid sole 1404 including anarea between the top and the bottom of a heel 1452. A similar pumpcavity 1450 enclosing a pump member 1464 similar to the pump cavity 1250in the previous example is illustrated, although it resides within ahigh-heel boot or footwear bounded by an upper moving portion 1454, alower reference portion 1456 and side walls 1458, 1460. The pump cavity1450 is expanded and contracted vertically, as show in FIGS. 14 a and 14b, respectively, the resilience of the heel 1452 being schematicallyrepresented by the spring member 1466, 1468 biasing the pump cavity 1450to its expanded position. When the heel strikes the upper moving portion1454, it engages the spring members 1466, 1468 causing them to buckleand press an actuating face 1472, 1474 against the pump member 1464.When the heel is raised, the resilience of the spring members 1466, 1468causes the upper moving portion 1454 to return to its normal state.

The springs are provided with a helical coil portion 1470, which ispreferred to be a buckling portion being able to perform a pivotfunction at a mid region thereof because it approximates a hinge thusproviding a larger displacement. The sides of the V-shape are relativestraight and the coil portion 1470 provides a distinct break, howeverthis is not essential. The spring members 1466, 1468 may have a centralreduced section providing the buckling portion or it may be ofsubstantially uniform section such that a general, rather than localizedbowing occurs upon compression as shown in FIGS. 13 a and 13 b. It isenvisaged that even though the heel of a high-heeled footwear isrelatively small, it can still accommodate the pump and thedisplacement-amplifying mechanism. It is to be noted that while in someembodiments like the above first example the spring members arevertically arranged in the sole, they may be arranged in a generallyV-shaped manner, conforming to the general shape of the heel of atypical high-heeled footwear.

Embodiment 2

A second embodiment of a footwear article or shoe is generally similarto the first embodiment, except this embodiment adopts an alternativedisplacement amplifying mechanism. The pump mechanism comprises a pumpmember 1564 enclosed in an air-tight chamber 1580. As shown in schematicFIG. 15 a to FIG. 15 d, the alternative displacement-amplifyingmechanism includes a pair of displacement-amplifying levers 1566, 1568.Please note that FIGS. 15 c and 15 d are similar to those in FIGS. 15 aand 15 b except that they depict the inclusion of an inlet 1582 andoutlet valve 1584 for the chamber 1580 and an inlet 1586 and outletvalve 1588 for the pump member 1564.

The levers 1566, 1568 are fixed by respective pivots 1570 towards anupper region on opposite side walls of the chamber. The chamber isenclosed in a larger chamber, and there is provided an actuating member1572 having an actuation face 1572 a fixedly secured on the inner upperopposite sides of the larger chamber located in the heel of the footweararticle. The actuating face 1572 a is inclined relative to and ispositioned above the levers 1566, 1568. When the sole positioned abovethe heel is not subject to pressure, there is a certain clearance 1574between the actuating face 1572 a and the levers 1566, 1568 (See FIG. 15c). Although when the sole is subject to pressure the actuating member1572 is pushed downwardly causing the levers 1566, 1568 to pivot towardsthe pump member 1564, causing it to collapse (see FIGS. 15 b and 15 d).The location at which the actuating member 1572 is attached is a movableportion 1554 which represents a downward moving portion of an insole ofthe shoe in a foot strike. With the heel in its expanded state, thelevers 1566, 1568 lie generally parallel to the sidewalls of the heel orchamber. Upon compression, the actuating face 1572 a engages the upperends of the lever 1566, 1568 when the moving portion 1554 is displaced,thus rotating a second part or lower end thereof, causing it to engagethe pump member 1564, as shown in FIGS. 15 b, 15 d.

As depicted, the pump member 1564 can enclosed in an airtight chamber1580 fitted with intake 1582 and outtake 1584 check valves and pipes soas to serve as a second part of cell or cells in a “dual-action” pump;the details of which were described before. Thus when the pump member1564 is depressed, the chamber 1580 fills with air and when the pumpmember 1564 expands, air is pumped out of the chamber 1580 and into thefootwear cavity.

Optionally, this design may also incorporate a temperature-regulating orsubstance dispensing chamber and member for circulating warm or perhapsa scented air through the footwear cavity.

Embodiment 3

FIGS. 16 a and 16 b depict a third embodiment of a footwear article 1600which utilizes the concept of a weight-based amplified displacementmechanism. As shown in 16 a, there is a footwear article 1600 with abladder 1602 residing in the mid part or front part 1603 on top of alever 1604. At the back part 1605 of the footwear, and close to thefulcrum 1608, there is an interface 1606 that when pressed downwardcauses the lever 1604 to pivot and results in an amplified displacementfor actuating a bladder 1602 located at an end of the lever 1604 farfrom the fulcrum 1608. In this example, the resilience of the lever 1604is provided by a spring 1610.

In FIG. 17, we show various examples of lever systems that can be usedfor the implementation of a third embodiment.

17 a depicts the lever mechanism in use in FIGS. 16 a and 16 b.

17 b and 17 c depict a second lever mechanism that resembles a set oftweezers. When force is applied to a point close to the joining sectionof a top and bottom of the mechanism, it causes a downward angularmotion of the top portion of the lever so that a bladder is compressedbetween.

17 d and 17 e depict a third lever mechanism that resembles a pair ofscissors. When force is applied to the shorter ends, it causes theactuating members to come together at the longer ends and compressing abladder between them.

FIG. 18 depicts a footwear article similar to that in FIGS. 16 a and 16b except where the interface is in the front and a bladder is compressedin the rear.

Embodiment 4

A fourth embodiment of a footwear article 1900—as shown in FIGS. 19 a,19 b, 19 c and 20—operates based on the bending and straightening of afootwear body during walking motion. The footwear article 1900 comprisesa footwear upper 1902 and a footwear sole 1904 which together define afirst cavity 1906 for accommodating the foot of a user. The footwearsole 1904 includes an insole 1908 and an outsole 1910 and a secondcavity 1912 is located between the insole 1908 and the outsole 1910. Thefootwear sole 1904 includes a front portion or a forepart 1914, a midportion and a rear portion or a heel region 1916. The sole 1904 isparticularly bendable at or near the mid portion such that duringwalking the natural movement of the foot causes the footwear sole 1904to bend at the bendable region (or relative rotation between the frontportion 1914 and the rear portion 1916). The footwear article 1900further comprises a mechanism for effecting ventilation or circulationof air through the first cavity 1906. The mechanism includes a pumpmember 1918 generally in the form of a bladder or bellows and enclosedin a chamber. A tube 1928 serving as a passageway between the exteriorof the footwear and the pump is provided. Furthermore a tube 1930serving as a passageway between the pump and the footwear interior(first cavity 1906) is provided. Valves (1932, 1934, 1936, 1938) areprovided at the passageways in order to control the direction ofmovement of air through the tubes. The embodiment includes an actuationmechanism 1920 for controlling the operation of the pump member 1918 andhence the ventilation of the footwear article 1900.

As shown in FIG. 20, the actuation mechanism 1920 is generally elongatein shape and resides in the mid sole. In this embodiment it is fixed inthe fore part but the back end is free to move from position to positionin the second cavity in response to bending or unbending of the sole.The actuation mechanism 1920 is provided with a pivotable or bendingportion 1922 located at the bendable region 1924 of the footwear sole1904. On bending of the footwear sole 1904, the actuation mechanism1920, because of its bias to straightening, tries to maintain itsdefault form. However, when the bending angle θ (as depicted in FIG. 7)becomes too great, the actuation mechanism 1920 is also caused to bendat the pivotable portion 1922. The pivotable portion 1922 is generallyin the form of a torsion spring 2026 having a central helical portionand opposing elongate legs or ends extending either side thereof beingbiased in generally parallel alignment. The rear end of the actuationmechanism 1920 is received in a second cavity and is particularlyarranged above the pump member 1918, facilitating the exertion of adownward force and compression on the pump member 1918 when the footwearsole 1904 is bent. To ensure that the actuating mechanism 1920 iseffective in depressing the pump member, an actuating face 2002 isattached to the spring as shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 19 a shows the sole when both the front portion 1914 and the rearportion 1916 of the footwear article 1900 are both in contact with theground; the pump member 1918 laying between the rear end of theactuation mechanism 1920 and the floor of the chamber. During walking,when the rear portion of the footwear article 1900 is lifted and therear portion 1916 of the footwear sole 1904 rotates relative to thefront portion, due to the resilience of the pivotable portion 1922,bending of the footwear sole 1904 causes the actuation mechanism 1920 toexert a downward force depressing the pump member 1918. FIG. 19 b showsa diagram of the footwear in a partially rotated position, whereas therotation is significant enough to drive the rear portion (or free end)of the actuation mechanism (pivotable member) 1920 against the pumpmember 1918 but the amount of rotation is not significant enough tocause a significant bending in the actuation mechanism 1920. FIG. 19 cillustrates a configuration in which the actuation mechanism 1920 isrotated or bended at the pivotal portion 1922 in response to thefootwear being bended further. The inclusion of a pivotable member asthe actuation mechanism 1920 is to ensure that there is not restrictionon the normal walking movement of a wearer. It is to be noted thatalthough the spring 2026 can be used for performing the pivotingfunction of the pivotal region, it is not necessary. Any appropriatedevice which can provide this pivotable or bendable function, such as aspringboard would work equally well. Even a rigid board would work,however the use of this may restrict the normal bending motion duringwalking. After bending when the sole 1904 is again straightened theresilience of the pivotal member restores the actuation mechanism 1920to a straightened manner, and thus also restoring the pump member 1904to its expanded configuration as shown in FIG. 19 a. In summary, bendingcauses the compression of the pump member 1918 providing an outflow ofair via the tube 1930 to the first cavity 1906 for ventilating thefootwear article.

Preferably the second cavity 1912 enclosing the pump member 1918 is anairtight chamber provided with intake and outtake pipes and check valves(1934, 1938). Thus when the pump is depressed there is also an inflow ofair to fill the chamber surrounding the pump. When the bending of thefootwear article 1900 concludes, the actuating mechanism 1920straightens restoring the pump member 1918 to its expanded state,causing air to be pumped out of the chamber to ventilate the footweararticle similar to the “dual-action” pump described in previoussections.

Optionally, this design may also incorporate a temperature-regulating orsubstance dispensing chamber and member for circulating warm or perhapsa scented air through the footwear cavity.

It should be noted that this embodiment does not involve the compressionor deformation of the rear end of the footwear sole to function thuspreserving the stability of the footwear.

FIG. 21 shows a design for a sole incorporating the fourth embodimentwherein there is a slot 2102 to fix a spring member, a cavity 2104 tofix a pumping mechanism and a passageway 2106 to channel the air out ofthe pump or to otherwise fix a tube.

FIG. 22 depicts a similar footwear article to that in FIGS. 19 a, 19 band 19 c except where the pump member and cavity are now located in thefront portion of the footwear and the actuating mechanism is fixed inthe rear portion.

Embodiment 5

FIGS. 23 a to 27 illustrate a fifth embodiment of a footwear article2300 according to the present invention. The footwear article 2300similarly comprises a shoe upper 2302 and a shoe sole 2304 whichtogether define a first cavity. The shoe sole 2304 includes an insole2306, a mid sole 2308 and an outsole 2310. The footwear article 2300also comprises a mechanism primarily housed in the mid sole 2308 foreffecting ventilation or circulation of air through the first cavity.The ventilation mechanism comprises a pump member 2312 enclosed in anairtight chamber 2314, which is located at a bendable region of the shoesole 2304. Preferably, there is a passageway between the pump member2312 and the shoe cavity and a passageway between the airtight chamber2314 and the shoe cavity. Similarly, there is a passageway between theexterior and the pump member 2312 and a passageway between the exteriorand the airtight chamber 2314. Valves are provided at the channels inorder to control the direction of movement through the passageways.

The chamber 2314 containing the pump member 2312 is located at abendable region 2316 in the mid sole 2308. The chamber 2314 is providedwith a resilient ceiling wall 2520 which is deformable when subjected topressure, as best shown in simplified FIGS. 25 a and 25 b. The actuationmeans includes a number of rib members. Only one end of each of the ribmembers 2422 is fixedly secured at a region to the ceiling 2520 whilethe opposite end (or the free end) thereof is movable or pivotable awayfrom the ceiling wall 2520 on deformation thereof, as shown in FIG. 23b. Since the cavity defined by the chamber is occupied by the pumpmember 2312, on deformation of the ceiling wall 2520 the free ends ofthe rib members 2422 presses onto the pump member 2312, thus pumping airinto the cavity. In particular, the rib members 2422 basically pivots ator near at the attachment region.

The pump member 2312 is preferably enclosed in an airtight chamber 2314provided with intake and outtake pipes and check valves, so that whenthe pump member 2312 to ventilate the first cavity the chamber 2314sucks in air from the outside. When the bending of the footwear articleconcludes, the rib members return to their default form restoring thepump member 2312 to its expanded state, causing air to be pumped out ofthe chamber to ventilate the footwear article similar to the“dual-action” pump described in previous sections.

Optionally, this design may also incorporate a temperature-regulating orsubstance dispensing chamber and member for circulating warm or perhapsa scented air through the shoe cavity.

The footwear article in this embodiment is similar to the fourthembodiment in that the operation of the ventilation mechanism primarilydepends on the bending of the shoe during walking motion. As shown inFIG. 24, the rib member 2422 may be spaced apart transversely in analternating manner. FIGS. 26 a and 26 b illustrate an alternativeconstruction of rib members. FIG. 27 is another illustration of analternative actuation means with rib like members.

Note:

In each of our embodiments 1-5, we pump air from the exterior into thefootwear cavity. But we can also draw air from the footwear cavity andvent it outside by reversing the direction of the valves.

Feature: Recirculation Control Valve

As one of the supplementary features that help to extend the benefits ofthe current invention, a recirculation valve is included to regulate theamount of external air allowed for circulation into the footwear. Inparticular, it is envisaged that in cold weather the wearer may not wantto circulate cold air from outside within the footwear.

Referring to FIGS. 28 a, 28 b and 28 c, a pump-ventilated footweararticle includes a recirculation control valve mechanism that includes ahousing 2802 having an elongate aperture 2804, a first inlet port 2806transversely opposite a second inlet port 2808, an outlet port 2810 at alongitudinal end of the aperture 2804, an internal passage 2814 viawhich external air or re-circulated air can pass and a valve member 2812for controlling the passage of air via the valve mechanism. The valvemember 2812 is provided with the internal passage 2814 sealinglyreceived for linear sliding movement in the aperture 2804. FIG. 28 ashows the valve member 2812 in a first position with the passageway 2814connecting ports 2806 and 2810 where 2806 represents port extending toan external source. FIG. 28 c shows passageway 2814 connecting ports2808 and 2810 for drawing in air from an internal source accessiblethrough 2808 and FIG. 28 b shows an intermediate position drawing airfrom both ports 2806 and 2808.

Feature: Pump Design

FIGS. 29 a and 29 b depict the top and side views of a pump member 2902that is particularly suitable for the third and fourth embodiment. Thepump is of an elongated design has a back part with a pipe 2904 at thecentre with a fore part with the pipe 2906 situated to one side. Bysituating the outtake pipe at one side, the pump can be more efficientlydepressed as the outtake pipe will not block the movement of the springor springboard acting on it as in the third and fourth embodiment.

FIGS. 30 a and 30 b depict a similar pump member to that in FIGS. 29 aand 29 b but one in which the back of the pump is larger than theforepart. This design is particularly suitable for use in the third andfourth embodiment because the angular rotation of the spring member isgreater the further away it is from the pivoting point. In turn, thegreater angular rotation at the back part of the spring member alsocauses a greater angular displacement at the back of the pump member.

Feature: Spring Board

FIGS. 31 a and 31 b depict a springboard that would be suitable for usein place of a spring, in the fourth embodiment. The springboardcomprises two elongated and relatively rigid boards joined at their endsby one or more spring members biased towards straightening. This designis advantageous over a traditional spring because of its relatively thinprofile.

FIGS. 32 a and 32 b depict an alternative springboard, made up of aresilient yet relatively rigid material. This design is particularlysuitable because it is thin and can be made up of a material other thanmetal thus rendering it airport safe.

Feature: Temperature-Regulating or Substance Dispensing Mechanism

This feature (FIG. 33) includes a footwear article 3300 provided with atemperature-regulating chamber 3302 or else a chamber for holding asubstance to be dispensed inside the footwear via a ventilation or aircirculation system. The chamber 3302 is sized and shaped to accommodatea heat-regulating member or substance dispenser such as a heat pad or adeodorant. The 3302 is connected with the shoe cavity via passageways(not shown) such that warm or scented air generated in the chamber canbe drawn to the shoe cavity. This feature may be applied to the previousembodiments such that the warm or scented air can actively be drawn tothe shoe cavity during walking motion.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An article of footwear comprising: a shoebody including a shoe upper and a sole including a bendable portionwhich together define a first cavity; said sole comprising a secondcavity; at least one pump positioned in the second cavity; an actuationmember comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end,and the actuation member positioned inside said sole; the actuationmember comprising a rotation region at which the second end of theactuation member is rotated relative to the first end of the actuationmember; and the second end of the actuation member is a movable free endwith respect to the first end and actuates the pump member by pressingor pulling against said pump member within the second cavity in responseto bending or unbending of said sole.
 2. The article of footwear asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said sole includes: a front portion; a midportion; a rear portion; said sole configured to bend at or near saidmid portion in response to or during walking motion and said actuationmember includes a front segment residing in said front portion and arear segment residing in said rear portion, wherein said rotation regionconnects said front segment and said rear segment.
 3. The article offootwear as claimed in claim 2, wherein said sole comprises an insoleand an outsole and said pump resides between said insole and saidoutsole at or near said rear portion.
 4. The article of footwear asclaimed in claim 2, wherein said sole comprises an insole and an outsoleand said pump resides between said insole and said outsole at or nearsaid front portion.
 5. The article of footwear as claimed in claim 1,wherein said pump includes a front region and a rear region, and whereinsaid front region is substantially thinner than said rear region.
 6. Thearticle of footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pump is providedwith air passageways and valves in communication with the first cavityand/or the surroundings of said footwear article.
 7. The article offootwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pump is enclosed in anairtight chamber arranged in said sole and wherein said chamber isprovided with air passageways and control valves in communication withthe first cavity and/or surroundings of said footwear article.
 8. Thearticle of footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sole comprisesan insole and an outsole and said pump resides between said insole andsaid outsole at or near said rotation region.
 9. The article of footwearin claim 8 comprising two said pumps, one of which is located above thefree end of said actuation member and the said other pump is locatedbelow the free end of said actuation member.
 10. The article of footwearas claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotation region of the actuationmember includes a spring, a springboard or a rigid board for urging theactuation member toward the pump.
 11. The article of footwear as claimedin claim 1, wherein said footwear article comprises a control valveconnected to a passageway of said pump for controlling the ratio of theamount of air receivable from the first cavity and the amount of airreceivable from surroundings of said footwear article.
 12. The articleof footwear as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a chamber foraccommodating a temperature-regulating or substance dispensing member,wherein said chamber is connected to the first and/or second cavity. 13.The article of footwear as claimed in claim 12, further comprising atemperature-regulating or substance dispensing member.
 14. The articleof footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sole includes an insoleand an outsole together defining said second cavity therebetween andhaving a front portion and a rear portion, with said pump residing insaid rear portion, and wherein said sole is made of relatively rigidmaterial whereby in use the relative distance between said insole andsaid outsole at said rear portion remains essentially constant duringmovement of air into and/or out of the cavity.